Electric shaver lubricator



June 6, 1961 H. E. o. ANDERSON 2,987,036

ELECTRIC SHAVER LUBRICATOR Filed 001',- 9, 19759 United States Patent O 2,987,036 ELECTRIC SHAVER LUBRICATOR Hilding E. 0. Anderson, 404 S. 7th St., De Kalb, lll. Filed Oct. 9, 1959, Ser. No. 845,507 6 Claims. (Cl. 118-268) This invention relates to improvements in wick-fed dispensers of liquids, and more particularly to a novel lubricator for the shaving heads of electric Shavers or razors.

'I'he primary object of the invention is to provide quick, eicient, wick-fed means for lubricating the shaving heads of electric Shavers which eliminates the soiling of ngers of the user by contact with the heads and/or present oil applicators, and the unwanted and inadvertent application of lubricant to parts of Shavers other than the heads.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the character indicated above which enables convenient and fastidious application of lubricating oil to the skin surfaces to be shaved, through application of oil to the shaving heads used, so as to reduce or eliminate shaving scrape and burn, lubricate the skin, and for women, to provide a desirable powder base on skin shaved.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character indicated above which is uncomplex in construction, is composed of a small number of simple and easily assembled parts, and can be made in durable and readily used forms at Irelatively low cost.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, a speciiic form of the invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a top plan view of a device of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2; and,

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a blank from which the wick is made.

Referring in det-ail to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate 4like parts throughout the several views, the illustrated device, generally designated 10, comprises a preferably cup-shaped container 12, preferably of suitable nonmetallic material, such as glass, having a flat bottom wall 14, and an upstanding plain cylindrical sidewall 16, terminating in a free upper edge 18. A suit able removable closure means, such as a cap (not shown) can readily be devised for closing the container 12.

Positioned within the container 12 lis a lubricant applicator assembly, generally designated 20, which is preferably but not necessarily held frictionally and removably in place. The assembly 20 comprises an open vertical cradle or frame 22 of flat relatively rigid strip met-al, such as aluminum, copper, brass or tin. The frame 22 is shorter than the container 12, bears upon the container bottom wall 14, and is spaced at all sides from the container sidewall 16, being maintained in such spaced relation by means of a spacing and retaining plate 24,

The frame 22 comprises a iat horizontal top wall 26, similar depending legs or sidewalls 28 on the ends of the top wall, and overlapped bottom wall sections or tongues 39 on the lower ends of the sidewalls 28, the sidewails 28 preferably being in slight downwardly converging relation to each other, as shown in FIGURE 2, wherein the sidewalls are tensioned toward each other. The bottom wall sections 30 are narrower than the sidewalls 28 and are separated from the sidewallspby fold ICC or crease lines 32, where the sections join the lower ends of the sidewalls, and by V-shaped slots 34 which indent the lower ends 36 of the sidewalls, at opposite sides of the sections 30, as shown in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 4 shows a single blank 38 from which the frame 22 can be economically formed, the blank being provided with a pair of crease or fold lines 40, intermediate its ends, which are spaced from each other for the length of the frame top wall 26, and on which the legs 28 are bent down to their positions.

When the tongues or bottom wall sections 30 are bent inwardly on the lines 32 into overlapped relation, the folds on the lines 40 and the outer side edges 42 of the slots 34 define transversely elongated notches 44 which have depending feet 46 at their ends, which rest upon the container bottom Wall 14, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. The notches 44 also serve as guides and retainers for wick elements.

The retaining and spacing plate 24, of suitable relatively rigid metal strip of limited resilience, is substantially as wide as the length of the ytop wall 26 of the frame 22, and is initially of a length longer than the inside diameter of the container 12.

The plate 24 is indented midway between its ends so as to provide a depressed flat bight portion 50 and upstanding retaining end walls 52 at the ends of the bight portion. This results in shortening the plate 24 to the extent that its arcuate ends 54, shaped to conformably engage diametrically opposite areas of the internal surface 56 of the container sidewall 16, with the end portion of the plate flexed downwardly, so that the ends 54 are tensioned against these areas and bear frictionally and securably thereagainst so as to preclude upward shifting of the plate 24 in the container 12. The plate 24 is disposed within the container 12, at a level spaced downwardly from the upper edge 18 of the container sidewall 4.16, with its bight portion 5t) engaged with the underside of the frame top wall 26, between the frame sidewalls 28, and with the retaining end walls 52 close to or in engagement with the side edges of the frame bight portion, whereby horizontal or lateral shifting of the frame 22 out of centered and spaced relation .to the container sidewall 16 is positively precluded, when ordinary operational stress is imposed on the frame 22, and on the plate 24, in the course of use of the device.

The assembly 20 further comprises a relatively thick, rectangular absorbent pad 58, of the same size and shape as the frame top wall 26, which rests thereon. Overlying the pad 58 lengthwise thereof is the bight portion 60, of an inverted U-shaped flat wick 62, which has legs 64 on its ends which depend along and engage the outer sides of the frame legs 28, and have terminal lower end portions 66 which are guidingly `and securably engaged inwardly through the notches 44 and bias upon the container bottom wall 14, as shown in FIGURE 3. The wide legs 64 are immersed at a depth for adequate transfer of lubricant to its bight portion 60 and the pad 58, in a body 68 of oil in the container 12.

In use, an electric razor or shaver (not shown) to be lubricated is inverted and the shaving head or heads are pressed and wiped lightly down upon the bight portion 60 of the wick 62, and then withdrawn from the bight portion 60 after an interval of time in contact therewith, to be determined by casual experiment, so that the head or heads are coated with oil. The oil coating thus applied, reaches the cutters ofthe head or heads on return of the shaved to erect position, and application thereof to the areas to be shaved. At the same time oil is transferred from the external surfaces of the head or heads to dry skin areas shaved, so that the skin is lubricated, and burning and chang of the skin reduced or eliminated. Where the razor to be lubricated has hinged or otherwise mounted hair collectors or guides, these are moved 4away from the head or heads before applying the heads to the instant device, in order Ito avoid unwanted oil-coating of the collectors or guides, `and to enable application of oil only to the shaving surfaces of the heads.

While there has been shown and described herein a preferred form of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily conined thereto, and that any change or changes in the structure of and in the relative larrangements of components thereof are contemplated as being within the scope of the invention as dened by the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. An electric shaver head lubricator comprising a container of lubricating oil, and a wick-fed applicator assembly mounted within the container and exposed above oil in the container, said container having a bottom wall and a sidewall, said assembly comprising a frame which is hollow and which comprises a horizontal bight portion terminating at its ends in depending side walls having lower ends which terminate in overlapped bottom wall sections, means on said lbottom wall sections resting upon the container bottom wall, a wick having a bight portion overlaying the frame bight portion and legs depending along opposite sides of the frame into oil in the container, and retaining and spacing means engaged with the frame sidewall and with the container sidewall and spacing the frame and the wick from the container sidewall.

2. An electric shaver head lubricator comprising a container of lubricating oil, and a wick-fed applicator assembly mounted within the container and exposed above oil in the container, said container having a bottom wall and a sidewall, said assembly comprising a frame resting upon said bottom wall, said frame having an upper portion rising above oil in the container, a wick having a bight portion overlying said upper portion and legs depending along opposite sides of the frame into oil in the container, and retaining and spacing means engaged with the frame and with the container sidewall and spacing the Iframe and the wick from the container sidewall, said retaining and spacing means comprising a resilient plate having ends tensioned toward and frictionally engaging exposed areas of the interior surface of the container sidewall, said plate having a depressed bight portion engaged with a portion of the frame and retaining end Walls engaged with opposite sides of said portion of the frame.

3. In an electric shaver head lubricator, a container of lubricating oil having a bottom wall and an upstanding sidewall having an upper edge and an interior surface, an upstanding hollow frame smaller in cross section than the interior of the container, said frame comprising a horizontal bight portion terminating at its ends in depending sidewalls having lower ends which terminate in overlapped bottom wall sections, means on said bottom wall sections resting upon the container bottom wall, a resilient spacing and retaining plate extending across the interior of the container and having ends bearing frictionally and securably against opposed areas of the interior surface of the container sidewall, an intermediate part of said plate being depressed to deine a bight portion and upstanding retaining end walls at related ends of the plate bight portion, the plate bight portion being engaged with the underside of the frame bight portion with the retaining end walls engaging the side edges of the frame bight portion, an inverted U-shaped wick having a bight portion overlying the frame bight portion and legs depending along the outer sides of the frame sidewalls, and into oil in the container, and an absorbent pad interposed between the wick bight portion and the frame bight portion.

4. In an electric shaver head lubricator, a container of lubricating oil having a bottom wall and an upstanding sidewall having an upper edge and an interior surface, an upstanding hollow frame smaller in cross section than the interior of the container, said frame comprising a horizontal bight portion terminating at its ends in depending sidewalls having lower ends which terminate in overlapped bottom wall sections, means on said bottom wall sections resting upon the container bottom wall, a resilient spacing and retaining plate extending across the interior of the container and having ends bearing frictionally and securably against opposed areas of the interior surface of the container sidewall, an intermediate part of said plate being depressed to detine a bight portion and upstanding retaining end walls at related ends of the plate bight portion, the plate bight portion being engaged with the underside of the frame bight portion with the retaining end walls engaging the side edges of the frame bight portion, an inverted U-shaped wick havl ing a bight portion overlying the frame bight portion and legs depending along the outer sides of the frame sidewalls, and into oil in the container, and an absorbent pad interposed between the wick bight portion and the frame -bight portion, said wick legs having terminals on their lower ends resting upon the container bottom Wall.

5. In an electric shaver head lubricator, a container of lubricating oil having a bottom wall and an upstanding sidewall having an upper edge and an interior surface, an upstanding hollow frame smaller in cross section than the interior of the container, said frame comprising a horizontal bight portion terminating at its ends in depending sidewalls having lower ends which terminate in overlapped bottom wall sections, means on said bottom wall sections resting upon the container bottom wall, a resilient spacing and retaining plate extending across the interior of the container and having ends bearing frictionally and securably against opposed areas of the interior surface of the container sidewall, an intermediate part of said plate being depressed to define a bight portion and upstanding retaining end walls at related ends of the plate bight portion, the plate bight portion being engaged with the underside of the frame bight portion with the retaining end walls engaging the side edges of the frame bight portion, an inverted U-shaped wick having a bight portion overlying the frame bight portion and legs depending along the outer sides of the frame sidewalls, and into oil in the container, and an absorbent pad interposed between the wick bight portion and the frame bight portion, said wick legs having terminals on their lower ends resting upon the container bottom wall, said frame sidewalls having inwardly extending and overlapping elements on their lower ends, above the wick terminals.

6. In an electric shaver head lubricator, a container of lubricating oil having a bottom wall and an upstanding sidewall having an upper edge and an interior surface, an upstanding hollow frame smaller in cross section than the interior of the container, said frame comprising a horizontal bight portion terminating at its ends in depending sidewalls having lower ends which terminate in overlapped bottom wall sections, means on said bottom wall sections resting upon the container bottom wall, a resilient spacing and retaining plate extending across the interior of the container and having ends bearing frictionally and securably against opposed areas of the interior surface of the container sidewall, an intermediate part of said plate being depressed to define a bight portion and upstanding retaining end walls at related ends of the plate bight portion, the plate bight portion being engaged with the underside of the frame bight portion with the retaining end Walls engaging the side edges of the frame bight portion, an inverted U-shaped wick having a bight portion overlying the frame bight portion and legs depending along the outer sides of the frame sidewalls, and into oil in the container, and an absorbent pad interposed between the wick bight portion and the frame bight p0rtion, said Wick legs having terminals on their lower ends resting upon the container bottom wall, said frame side- 6 walls having inwardly extending and overlapping ele- References Cited in the le of this patent ments on their lower ends, above the wick terminals, said frame sidewalls having wick guiding notches in their UNITED STATES PATENTS lower ends which dene depending feet constituting said 603,768 Karges May 10, 1898 means, the wick terminals being extended inwardly 5 826,520 Myers July 17, 1906 through said notches. 

